Myanmar’s parliament elected Min Aung Hlaing as the country’s new president on Friday, solidifying the military’s continued control following the 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government. The move follows elections widely considered neither free nor fair, with major opposition parties blocked from running or refusing to participate.
Min Aung Hlaing, formerly the commander-in-chief, relinquished his military post as required by the constitution. He secured 429 out of 584 votes, with lawmakers from military-backed parties holding a commanding majority. Gen. Ye Win Oo has taken over the role of commander-in-chief.
The election process has been dismissed by monitoring groups as civilian window dressing, despite being the conclusion of elections stage-managed by the military. The 69-year-old Min Aung Hlaing had held significant power even before the coup, under a military-imposed constitution.